Biden says Russia should be expelled from G20 amid war on Ukraine

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - US President Joe Biden called for Russia to be expelled from the G20 group of nations on Thursday due to its ongoing war against Ukraine.

Biden, however, acknowledged that any action "depends on the G20," but said it was discussed during his meetings with NATO and allied nations in Brussels. Biden said he proposed an alternative if there is no an agreement within the body for Russia's removal, for Ukraine to be allowed to attend G20 meetings as an observer.

The G20 includes some of the world's largest economies. Russia was removed from what was then known as the G8 in 2014 after it unilaterally annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula, and began its support for separatists rebels in eastern Ukraine.

The G8 is now the G7, and includes the US, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom.